This grant, offered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) in coordination with BJS and the FBI, is for the urgent purpose of improving the completeness and accuracy of firearm background checks via the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). It aims to close critical information gaps, promoting effective enforcement of existing gun laws. Funding prioritizes enhancing reporting completeness and the inclusion of vital disqualifying data, such as mental health records, domestic violence orders, warrants, and felony court dispositions. The program also supports expanded use of biometric identifiers like fingerprints for better identity matching. This one-time grant complements ongoing NCHIP and NARIP initiatives, utilizing funds from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.
Opportunity ID: 227902
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | BJA-2013-3544 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | BJA FY 13 Improving the Completeness of Firearm Background Checks through Enhanced State Data Sharing |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Law, Justice and Legal Services |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | – |
| Assistance Listings: | 16.738 — Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | Mar 22, 2013 |
| Last Updated Date: | – |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | May 13, 2013 |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | May 13, 2013 |
| Archive Date: | Jun 12, 2013 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | – |
| Award Ceiling: | $1,500,000 |
| Award Floor: | $0 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | Eligibility to apply is determined by the specific funding category. In this solicitation, there are two funding categories: Category 1 (Implementation Grants): Eligible applicants are state agencies with the ability and authority to implement data sharing and reporting as described in this solicitation. The preferred applicant is the BJA State Administering Agency (SAA). However, other state-level agencies may apply with the inclusion of a letter of support or other documentation from the SAA’s office that demonstrates a commitment to coordinate activities statewide. BJA anticipates receiving no more than one application from each state in order to promote comprehensive strategies and multi-agency coordination. Category 2 (Technical Assistance): Eligible applicants are for-profit (commercial) and nonprofit organizations (including tribal nonprofit or for-profit organizations), and institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education). For-profit organizations must agree to forgo any profit or management fee. Prospective applicants should verify which funding category is being applied for and confirm that the associated eligibility requirements are met. For information on SAAs and to obtain contact information, visit the OJP SAA web page. |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Bureau of Justice Assistance |
| Description: | Through the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and with the support of Congress, OJP funds the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) and the NICS Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP).Both of these programs provide essential support and guidance to improve reporting of criminal history and related records used for background checks conducted through the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, for individuals seeking to purchase certain firearms. Recent acts of violence have focused national attention on the urgent need to close several persistent information gaps remaining in the background check process. Closing these information gaps will promote more effective enforcement of our nations existing gun laws. BJA, in close coordination with BJS and the FBI, is releasing this competitive grant opportunity to improve and expand the data accessible to NICS at the time of a firearm background check to ensure lawful purchases. Funding priority will be directed to agencies whose proposals would achieve the most significant gains in (1) reporting completeness; (2) accuracy of information; and (3) inclusion of disqualifying data sets which are currently under-reported in the system. Specifically, successful applications will include improved sharing of mental health information, domestic violence protection orders, warrants, and felony court dispositions. In addition, the program will enable expanded use of techniques for positive identification, including biometric identifiers such as fingerprints, to promote more effective identity matching and record linking. This one-time grant program will complement the ongoing NCHIP and NARIP programs by providing expanded resources and onsite support to address these priority issues, while sustaining existing operations and enhancement activities. This program is funded under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. The JAG Program (42 U.S.C. 3751(a) et seq.) is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state, local, and tribal jurisdictions, and JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system. The JAG Program has been used historically to address a wide range of criminal justice challenges, including gun violence, and has resulted in the development of numerous products and case studies consistent with the goals of this solicitation, and from which recipients of funding will benefit. Some of those resources have been identified and are listed on page 6. The JAG Program authorization also provides that up to 5 percent of the funds available to carry out subpart 1 of Title I, Part E of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (Omnibus) may be granted, among other reasons, for one or more of the purposes specified in Section 501 of Title I, Part E, Subpart 1 of Omnibus upon a determination that it is necessary to combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime (42 U.S.C. 3756(b)(1)). |
| Link to Additional Information: | Full Announcement |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
For technical assistance with submitting an application, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726 or 606–545–5035, or via e-mail to support@grants.gov.
Email:support@grants.gov |
Version History
| Version | Modification Description | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|
Related Documents
Folder 227902 Full Announcement-1 -> 13firearmbackgroundchecksol.pdf
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | For technical assistance with submitting an application, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726 or 606–545–5035, or via e-mail to support@grants.gov. Email: support@grants.gov |
| Who Can Apply: | Organization Applicants |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16.738 | BJA-2013-3545 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS | PKG00171156 | Mar 22, 2013 | May 13, 2013 | View |
| 16.738 | BJA-2013-3546 | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE | PKG00171158 | Mar 22, 2013 | May 13, 2013 | View |
Package 1
Mandatory forms
227902 SF424-2.0.pdf
227902 SF424B-1.1.pdf
227902 Budget-1.1.pdf
227902 Other-1.1.pdf
227902 Project-1.1.pdf
Optional forms
227902 FaithBased_SurveyOnEEO-1.2.pdf
Package 2
Mandatory forms
227902 SF424-2.0.pdf
227902 SF424B-1.1.pdf
227902 Budget-1.1.pdf
227902 Other-1.1.pdf
227902 Project-1.1.pdf
Optional forms
227902 FaithBased_SurveyOnEEO-1.2.pdf